Celtic Fury (25 page)

He said, “We should catch up to them tonight.” 

“Damn them to hell, Li. I missed my bloody wedding.”

“Christ, that willna’ bode well with the lass. As sweet as she is, I suspect I wouldna’ want to provoke her temper.”

“I know. We are days away from home and we have yet to put a sword to one of these blasted MacDougals. Now, look at the waste from their folly. I swear to God, if I get my hands on one of them, and I will gut him.” 

Liam clapped his brother’s shoulder. He said, “I know, brother. I am anxious to get home to my woman, too. But looking at this waste gives me the drive to catch those bloody bastards. They think to take our sheep and lay waste to the land…Oh I assure ye’, I want their hides right with ye’.”

Rory took another swig of the water in the skin, feeling it run cool down his parched throat. He leaned back against the tree. He closed his eyes and allowed his mind to drift to Brielle. Even thoughts of her were like a safe haven. He missed her so much and he ached to hold her.

I am sorry, Love. I hope ye’ can forgive me.
Nothing! He didn’t hear her voice back in response to him. He sighed unhappily. He wanted a few moments to rest
but
as he began to drift off he felt it. It was a pain in his chest like someone was squeezing his heart.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Brielle was lost in thoughts as she watched the Brindle stallion. He was running alone, almost as if he was showing off for her. The wind in his beautiful mane sent a sail behind him as he ran at full speed. Seeing him run brought a smile to Brielle’s lips. He was such a rare and beautiful creature. At last he slowed and approached the fence where Brielle stood. He nudged her and she climbed onto the bottom log rung of the fence. She patted his neck and whispered something in Gaelic to him. She had tied her mare to a post so she could get to the brindle safely, but even so, the mare seemed agitated by his presence.

She soothed, “I know girl. He
is beautiful isn’t he?
But he is too beautiful and wild, girl. He will break yer
’
heart.”

The mare whickered and sidestepped in a dance of tense nerves. The stallion nudged her again and she hugged his neck.

“
Nay, I dunna’ feel like riding ye’ today.” Patting the beautiful horse, Brielle felt the restraint on her emotions give way. It was like it had the power to unleash all her pent up sadness.

Tears fell at the weight of the disappointment she had not even wanted to acknowledge. She felt like the years of disappointments were crashing down on her and she allowed herself to have a good cry. She had tried so many times to feel and sense Ruiri, but time and time again, she sensed emptiness. She did not know why she could not feel Ruiri. It was not like she felt he was gone from the world...just closed to her. Brielle thought that he probably did that deliberately to not worry her.

Brielle was so lost in her thoughts she did not hear another rider approach. Both the horses were madly pawing the ground and were highly agitated. By the time she realized the brindle and her mare were trying to alert her, it was too late. Turning around, she faced Jerome McManus, the henchman of her brother Roderick. His presence was unwelcomed and it only meant something horrid.
He was as much of a madman as her brother was.
She had always thought that he had murdered a young woman who went missing from her village some years ago
. He had been seen with the girl before she disappeared.  Now, standing before him,
she felt fear fill her with dread.

Horror clasped her heart, squeezing it like a vise and her only thought was to run. She turned and tried to run from him, holding her skirts away from her ankles, but it was no use. Jerome rode her down and grabbed her into his saddle.

She screamed, “No!  Leave me alone.”

“Yer’ b
rother wishes ye’ to come home.
Ye’ have dishonored yer’ clan long enough.”

“I have done no such thing.”

“Oh, nay? Becoming the whore of Rory MacCollum has not caused dishonor to Campbell?”

“I—I am not his whore. I am married to Rory MacCollum.” As the words were out of her mouth, she regretted even saying them.

“Married! Hah! To the sworn enemy of yer’ clan? Ye’ arena’ married, to the Rabid Wolf. Ye’ are no better than any common whore and camp follower. At least they dunna' lie with the enemy. Rory’s other whore was quick to give ye’ up. She said ye’ cancelled yer’ banns just today. She was happy to tell me that news.”

Brielle guessed that the girl from the tavern had spread the gossip quickly and she did not doubt the girl would have done so for a coin. Brielle was her rival even though she had never even spoke a word to the girl. Brielle stammered, “We were married…by the old rite. My husband…”

“Husband! You stupid bitch, he used that ploy to
get into yer’ knickers. When y’
wouldn’t give me a tumble, I thought it was because ye’ thought yerself’ better ‘an me and here it is because ye’ are a slow-witted slut.” Brielle was horrified. She tried to break free from his hold, but Jerome held her pinned, pulling her arms cruelly behind her. He said, “Dunna’ think to scream, bitch, or I shall be happy to gag ye’.” 

“Ye’ canna’ take me. The laird will be …”

“That doddering old fool. He was easy to make short work of. Ye’ see, whore, I have been watching ye’ for sometime, thanks to the tavern wench.”

“What have you done to him?” Jerome laughed evilly.

“He willna’ be findin’ ye’.”
Brielle felt nausea rising
at the thought that harm had come to Caleb.

She murmured, “Oh my God…”

Harm had come to MacCollum and it was all her fault. Rory would never forgive her. He would think it had been a ploy all along and this time she couldn’t blame him. If she hadn’t been living among the MacCollums, this day would never have come upon them. Brielle began to weep. It was unfathomable that the powerful Laird of the Clan MacCollum was lost. She tried to struggle free but he yanked her arms so hard behind her, she felt like he had snapped them free of her shoulders. She cried out in pain and he cuffed her.

“Shut up.” 

He rode out to a less traveled road, avoiding the village to prevent further scrutiny now that he had taken the girl. He tore a leather thong from his belt and tied her hands behind her back.

She felt her heart breaking in her chest and even though she knew Ruiri would probably blame her, she said, “Ruiri will find me…” and she tried not to think that he would find her, alright. And when he did, he would no longer love her. Worse, he would blame her for t
he harm done to Caleb
and he would toss her aside, never to trust her again.

Would he spend his anger on her once again, if he thought she was to blame? What if he thought she had planned the trap carefully all along? That day, in the solar, he had said as much.
She is a Campbell, she wishes to destroy me.
His words sounded in her mind. How would she be able to convince him that she was innocent in this vile thing and that she would never hurt him? She loved him and she would never be part of the evil against him or his clan. She ignored the little voice that said he will never believe that. He loves you now. She knew his heart was newly opened. He had suffered so much because of what her brothers had done. His trust was newly formed and Brielle was convinced that trust would shatter at first chance. She would once again be his enemy, like a viper in a nest.

“I doubt ye’ are even worth the effort, but if he does, all the better. T’is high time yer’ brother finished that rabid Highland Wolf.” 

Brielle gasped. Roderick did not care to have her back at Castle Campbell. He wanted to set a trap for Ruiri. She could not let that happen. She would sooner die than have him fall prey to her brothers’ evil plans. Of this Brielle was certain. Never would she put her Ruiri in harm’s way. Never would she let Roderick have a chance to cause more damage. Brielle tried not to think about the loss of Caleb right now. That was damage she could not prevent for Brielle knew that Jerome Mac Manus was a sadistic bastard who would have enjoyed hurting the Laird. She would grieve the man who had been so kind to her later. Now she needed to plan how to escape the fate that awaited her.

*****

Caleb rode to where he had agreed to meet Brielle. When he got to the pasture, he found her mare tethered and the brindle stallion agitated and r
earing. Panic seized his heart.
The girl was nowhere to be found. He knew she had been melancholy about the wedding postponement, but he was certain she would not have gone off by herself. He looked about and saw the tracks of a rider. Then Caleb knew. Brielle was gone, that was certain. Abducted! Dear God, someone had taken her and he was pretty sure he knew who. Campbells! Bloody Hell!  Ruiri would have his hide. He was supposed to protect that girl. Never mind that Morag had issued uncertain warnings repeatedly. His complacency had possibly cost the life of his son's beloved once again to the Campbell scourge.

Caleb rode as fast as he could back to the keep. He would gather Shawn and they would search for the girl. He had to get his weapons and arm himself, because all he had with him were two dirks in his bootstraps. He hated wasting precious time, but he’d be of no help to the lass if he could not defend himself. He needed to arm himself to the teeth, knowing that those Campbells were dirty fighters, fighters that knew nothing of honor. They knew nothing of family, so Caleb could not be certain they would not harm their own sister. In fact, in light of the old scars she bore, he was pretty sure not only would they harm her, they would likely kill her once they learned of her relationship with Rory.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Rory bolted to his feet.
He could still feel the sharp pain in his chest. It was like a squeezing around his heart.
Liam looked at him curiously. He had barely taken five minutes to rest and so Liam wondered at his sudden move.

“Ruiri, man, have ye' had an ill dream?”

“Nay. I must return home.” 

“But the MacDougals. . .”

“MacDougals be damned. To hell with them! My woman is in danger.”  Liam eyed his brother.

“It was probably just a dream. You must have dozed off for a second.”

Rory
suddenly
paced like a caged animal.

“Liam, she is in danger. I know it. I feel her, here,” Rory said, putting his hand over his heart. Liam stared at him and worried that Rory was just feeling fear because of what had happened before; which actually was not really like him, but still, his past could be clouding his instincts, filling his soul with fear.

“She is with Caleb. He will keep her safe.” But even as Liam said those words, he felt a chill of foreboding. What if Rory was right? He could not bear to think of some harm coming to that sweet girl. In a short time, Liam could see that Brielle had changed his brother’s life. She single handedly brought his brother out of that darkness he had carried for the past decade. Without trying to prove his point, Rory began gathering his belongings and packed them onto his horse. Liam knew what Rory had to do and he did not fault him in the least. Family first, then clan and country. Liam said, “At least take yer' men at arms.”

“Nay, t’will be easier for me to ride for home alone. Besides, ye' need their force behind ye'.” Rory turned an apologetic gaze towards his brother.

“I am sorry, Liam.” 

“Dunna’ be. She is your wife by Ancient Rite. She takes first place in your heart. Go, man, bring her to safety.” That simple statement validated Rory’s fear. Brielle was in danger, it was certain. Liam clapped his brother across the back in a hug.

“Brother, be careful.
Dunna’ make her a widow again…”  Rory nodded solemnly. “Take great care, as well, Liam. Be sure to meter out justice to these MacDougal raiders.” 

Rory leapt onto his great warhorse and began to ride for home. He was easily three days ride from MacCollum land but he knew if he was driven he would shorten the trip by mayhap a day. His focus was on finding Brielle and making sure she was safe. So caught in his thoughts, he barely felt the miles being eaten beneath him. He was unaware of the discomforts of already being tired and the cold highland air settling into his bones. He didn’t seem to notice when branches snagged at his skin or whipped at him through the trees. Like the ancient
berserkers
, Rory was entranced; his sole purpose was to get to Brielle. He rode like a legion of hell was at his back. He kept trying to feel Brielle, and every time he did, he felt a squeezing around his heart. What in the hell had happened to her? And if something had happened, then was his Da in danger as well? Surely Caleb would have never let any harm come to Brielle. A dreadful foreboding crept into Rory’s heart. He cursed himself for ever leaving her. Something else prickled at his warrior’s instincts. Smoke! 

Rory spurred his horse and came upon the smoldering char of a once pristine meadow. More of their land lain to waste! Damn it! Bloody feckin MacDougals! Rory cursed out loud. He felt like his heart was being torn. His beautiful land was being destroyed and his beloved Brielle was in danger. He roared in frustration. Rory didn’t know what to do. As he sat in the midst of the burnt clearing, he knew there was nothing else he could do at this time. What was laid to waste was gone. Now it was more important to get home and see that his Brielle was safe. If she wasn’t, he had to bring her to safety and rescue her. He had to get home. That became his mantra as he spurred his horse to leave the charred remains of the beautiful field. The acrid smell of smoke was strong in his own nostrils but he just had to focus. The fire was out, and just the charred remains of shrubs and grazing land was what had been left. There was nothing he could do to turn back what had been done here. He could join his brothers again once he knew Brielle was safe.